Sliding keyholder



May 26, 1970 F. .1. RYDER, JR., UAL 3,513,675

SLIDING KEYHOLDER Filed May 28, 196e e@ lO C ATTORNEY United States' Patent O 3,513,675 SLIDING KEYHOLDER Frank J. Ryder, Jr., Marion, Mass., and T. Lawson Wilkinson, Cranston, RJ., assignors to Walter E. Hayward Co., Inc., Attleboro, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed May 28, 1968, Ser. N0. 732,680 Int. Cl. A44b 15/00 U.S. Cl. 70--459 1 Claim ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This specification discloses a sliding keyholder comprising two relatively movable parts. One of these is a flat tubular casing open at both ends and having a narrow side wall formed with an aperture. Spaced midway between its ends and spaced inwardly from the side wall opposite to that having the aperture the casing carries an abutment pin spanning the space between the face walls of the casing. The other part is an integral strip presenting two U-sha-ped end portions each having a long leg and a short leg. One of the latter is formed with a detent detachably received in said aperture. The long legs are connected and extending inwardly therefrom is a pair of spaced projections either of which is adapted to engage the abutment 'pin to limit sliding movement of the strip in the casing.

The present invention relates to keyholders and is concerned primarily with a device of the sliding type which is the epitome of simplicity both in construction and operation.

If a keyholder is to meet with the acceptance of the using public, it must be inexpensive to produce, oier a high degree of flexibility in its use, be susceptible of' simple operation in changing from open to closed position, remain firmly secured in either of these positions, and denite assurance provided that the parts thereof will remain in assembled relation at all times.

With these factors in mind the invention has, as an object, the provision of a keyholder consisting essentially of a flat tubular casing open at both ends and slidably receiving a one piece strip presenting two U-shaped loop portions, each projecting beyond a casing end, and adapted to be opened by sliding movement of the strip relative to the casing.

Another object is to provide, in a keyholder of the type noted, new and improved means for releasably holding the stripagainst movement relative to the casing when the loops are closed. This end is achieved by forming one side wall of the casing with an aperture that receives a detent projecting from an arm of one U-shaped loop. The latter is of a springy material so that it may be -iiexed to remove the detent from the aperture and permit sliding movement to open either of the loops.

Another important object is to provide, in a keyholder of the character aforesaid, cooperating abutment elements on the casing and strip respectively to, in the first instance, limit opening movement of the strip and secondly, to insure that the casing and lstrip are at all times assembled.

In carrying out this idea the side of the strip joining the U-shaped loops is provided with a pair of inwardly extending spaced projections. The casing has face walls of appreciable extent which are joined by narrow sidewalls. An abutment pin spans the gap between the face walls and is positioned spaced from the side wall opposite to that formed with the aperture a distance substantially equal to the width of the strip side and midway the casing ends. In this position it is adapted to be engaged by either of the abutment projections to limit opening sliding movement of the strip.

3,5 13,6 Patented May 26, 1970 Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention such as arise in connection with carrying out the above noted ideas in a practical embodiment will in part become apparent, and in part "be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a keyholder designed in accordance with the precepts of this invention and depicting the keyholder as closed;

FIG. 2 is a view, partly in section, and partly in elevation, illustrating the two components of the device in exploded relation;

FIG. 3 is a detail, taken on an enlarged scale showing the relation of the parts when the detent for holding the strip closed is removed from the aperture;

FIG. 4 is another detail on an enlarged scale showing how the elements of the abutment cooperate; and

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section through the side walls depicting the relation of the parts when the loops are closed.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, and first more particularly to FIG. l, the keyholder of this invention is therein shown as comprising two main components, one of these is a casing identied in its entirety by the reference character C and the other a strip referred to in its entirety by the reference character S.

The casing C may be of any appropriate material although metal may be taken as the preferred material. It is of a flat tubular construction open at both ends. Thus the casing C comprises a pair of opposed, spaced apart, face walls 10 of appreciable extent, and narrow side walls 11 and 12 (FIGS. 2 and 5). The casing C presents open ends at 13 and 14.

An abutment pin 15 spans the gap between the face walls 10 and is positioned substantially midway the ends 13 and 14. It is spaced from the side wall 12 a distance equal to, or slightly in excess of the width of the strip S.

The strip S also may be of any material having required properties of elasticity and resiliency. Thus it may b e of any good springy metal. The strip S comprises two loops 16 and 17 of U-shape and which are integrally connected to provide a one piece strip.

`The loop 16 has a short leg 18 and a long leg 19 connected by a yback or bend portion 20. Likewise the loop 17 has a short leg 21 and a long leg 22 connected by a bend portion 23. The long legs 19 and 22 are integrally joined and the two together are identified as a s trip side 24.

The side wall 11 adjacent to the end 13 is formed with an aperture 25. The leg 1'8 of loop 16 is provided with an outwardly extending projection 26 which is adapted to be received in the aperture 25 whereupon it functions as a detent inhibiting sliding movement of the strip S relative to casting C. However, it may fbe removed from this restraining position by merely exerting an inward pressure on the leg 18. The bend 20 readily accommodates this flexing action.

The side 24 of the strip S is formed with a pair of outwardly extending abutment projections 27 spaced apart a distance related to the length of the casing C so that when either of these projections 27 engages the pin 15 outward sliding movement of the strip S is limited so that the free end of either leg 18; or 21 is opened or spaced from the respective casing end 13 or 14 a distance to permit the addition to, or removal from, the loop of one or more keys.

As shown in FIG. 4 each projection 27 has an abrupt shoulder 28 which further assures of the proper stop action.

While the mode of operation and manner of using the keyholder are believed to be obvious from the illustrations of the drawing and descriptions of the parts, they may be briey outlined as follows:

With the device in the position of FIGS. 1 and S both the loops 16 and 17 are closed. When it is desired to open one of them, inward pressure is applied to the leg 18 of loop 16. This causes the detent 26 to clear the aperture 25 whereupon the strip S may be slid in either direction depending upon which loop it is desired to open. When one of the abutment projections 27 engages the pin 1S, the free end of one leg 18 or 21 will be spaced from the adjacent casing end 13 or 14 a distance to permit the insertion or removal of a key from the loop.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to :be limited to the exact construction, designs, and mechanism illustrated and described because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sliding keyholder, a Hat tubular casing open at both ends and having face walls spaced apart by side walls, a strip snugly and slidably received in said casing,

4 said strip comprising loops integrally joined by a side common to both loops with each loop having a free end that is received in the casing when the loop is closed and removed therefrom when the loop is open, cooperating elements of a detent on one side wall of said casing and one loop for maintaining said loops closed, and components of abutment means on said casing and strip respectively for limiting relative movement of said casing and strip, said abutment means comprises a pin spanning the space between said face wall and positioned midway the ends of the casing, and a pair of spaced apart projections on said strip engageable with said pin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 905,731 12/1908 Merrill 70-459 1,859,176 5/1932 Servilla 70-456 2,129,436 9/1938 Murray 70-459 2,986,788 6/1961 Hasek 24-73 FOREIGN PATENTS 392,235 9/1908 France.

544,618 2/1956 Belgium.

596,975 8/1925 France.

RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner R. L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner 

